The Anchor & Hope Restaurant at 83 Minna St. in San Francisco Calif. is photographed on April 19, 2008. It opens to the public on April 22. Photo by Kim Komenich / San Francisco Chronicle

Photo: Kim Komenich, SFC

The Anchor & Hope Restaurant at 83 Minna St. in San Francisco...

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The Anchor & Hope Restaurant at 83 Minna St. in San Francisco Calif. is photographed on April 19, 2008. It opens to the public on April 22. Photo by Kim Komenich / San Francisco Chronicle
Ran on: 04-23-2008
Photo caption

Threefold partners, Mitchell and Steven Rosenthal and Doug Washington (Town Hall, Salt House), set sail on a new venture with the opening of their oyster bar/fish house, Anchor & Hope on Tuesday. Tucked away in a narrow alley on Minna Street in San Francisco, the former auto mechanic garage has been converted into a lofty space reminiscent of East Coast fish shacks, with 30-foot trestle ceilings and old sailing ropes hanging off exposed wooden beams.

The cuisine: Seafood is king. Starters include a wide variety of fresh oysters; white corn and clam chowder; Sichuan pepper prawns served with heads on; and sea urchin in the shell. Main courses feature variations on classics like the lobster roll with brioche; Guinness-battered fish; and spicy mussel stew with saffron, monkfish and chorizo. There are two non-seafood dishes, as well as a daily vegetarian item. Desserts include pistachio and chocolate truffle brownies and a Meyer lemon tart. An extensive list of coastal wines and eight beers on tap are available.

The team: Partners Mitchell and Steven Rosenthal and Doug Washington. The executive chef is Boston native Sarah Schafer (Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison in New York), and general manager is Brady Johnstone.

The vibe: The interior, designed by local Jeffrey Ruiz, includes a 35-foot zinc bar, fixtures made of reclaimed wood, and Chilean pine tables. A row of lights painted like fish eyes stare down at diners while they check out the back bar artwork of "Darwinian" fish painted by Washington's wife, Freye Prowe. Classic marine pendant lights, lobster cages and sailing lines give diners a taste of the Maine experience